discuss: Linux Documentation needs much work and ideas
Subject:
RE: Linux Documentation needs much work and ideas
From:
"Paul Hendricksen" ####@####.####
Date:
24 Dec 2012 21:28:26 +0000
Message-Id: <!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAF+K0OIWPRNHtH8KWC14LSMigQAAEAAAALmpt/+DXudBp2o3aa8KJiIBAAAAAA==@gmail.com>
I think this topic is important; Zhi has brought up a lot of the history of use that is very important. What is critical is to note that TLDP has been a source of information use over many years and in the past 12, the way we seek it is a whole different story. Back in 1998 and 1999, I used the TLDP a lot because man files were the only other way to learn, I didn't learn that way - I needed to read. HOWTOs came about and started to go the way of the dodo following message boards and wikis. Now, we have YouTube and it's becoming more and more personal.
Wiki's can be made to accept change "pending" review and also be a solid place to build from because it is database driven. Hard cutting and pasting is not out of the question, this can be done but the method of attracting new contributors is the key here. If we don't want TLDP to disappear into an abyss we need to modify its 1) content management system, 2) its presentation and 3) it's user interactions.
Solutions:
1) Modify the wiki to work much like Wikimedia and its database driven design capabilities.
2) Present a modern appeal to the wiki.
3) Allow social media logins for contributions
4) Provide a discussion forum alongside of the discussion list for collaboration.
Thoughts?
Respectfully,
Paul Hendricksen
-----Original Message-----
From: Zhi An Ng ####@####.####
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 3:23 AM
To: ####@####.####
Subject: Re: Linux Documentation needs much work and ideas
I agree that documentation for Linux is spread out all over the web. The main places documentation resides are Linux forums, individual distribution's forums and wiki.
Personally I feel that forums, HOWTOS and guides, and wikis should not be independent. *Wikis provide topical information at an introductory level*.
They provide sufficient information for troubleshooting, and preliminary learning on a topic. When I was starting out, wikis were really helpful, for example in topics such as keyboard and wireless. I especially love the Arch Linux wiki because they are so comprehensive and clearly written.
Forums like linuxforums and distribution's forums provide help on more specific problems faced by users, and also encourage sharing of code and configuration. It is important because that is where a distribution's user base interacts, where its community lives.
As for HOWTOs and guides, such as those on TLDP, they contain in-depth knowledge. I personally find them very useful. But most people will not probably get pass the first chapter (with reference to the market share of Linux).
I was also reading through the discussion list, and picked up an important
point:
-The wiki is a "beta holding ground", for guides that were incomplete not not ready to be published.
Personally I do not agree with this but if it was the original intent then we probably need to hold some discussion.
As for the presentation of the front-page, I agree that there needs to be work done. Aesthetics has gained much importance in recent years and the way TLDP looks might have turned quite some people away. I'm not HTML CSS wiz (and my design skills are worse), but I will try.
Sincerely,
Ng Zhi An
